A Different Kind of Fix - Bombay Bicycle Club

There's a definite sound to the current climate that is British indie music. It's a very distinct mix of indie meets pop meets rock, which subsequently meets contemporary-influenced folk, and ultimately leading to very bouncy musical composition of upbeat rhythms and twiddly guitar riffs, peppered with underlays of electronic effects. Bombay Bicycle Club have conquered that sound, and with the release of their third album A Different Kind of Fix, I can't help but feel a little disheartened by the overt similarities between this and their previous releases. However, what can be said is that the musical arrangement of this album has been clearly composed with love and an undeniable amount of effort. As recognizable with Bombay Bicycle Club, there's a brilliant fusion between folk-influenced guitar parts with a modest use of synthesizers that slide subtly behind their melodies and thicken the atmosphere that surrounds each track. 

Bombay Bicycle Club as seen on their Last.fm page

The first impressions I had for this album were particularly positive. The opening song, How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep cements the folkiness of this album, while the shaky vocals remind me of a more upbeat, rather happier Conor Oberst who's given in to the contemporary trend of electronic influences. The great thing is that this opening track is so different to their previous sound that when followed by Bad Timing, there's an admirable sense of change and distinction - particularly how this second track has more of a dreampop feel to it, drawing upon musical similarities to ethereal bands such as The Daysleepers and the likes.

There is definitely a hidden depth to these songs that can be discovered through taking the time to listen to this album from start to finish. Despite the upbeat rhythms and melodies that Bombay Bicycle Club frequent in their songs, there's a subtle darkness that lurks beneath. Don't get me wrong though - the clean, articulated guitar sequences that hold true to Bombay Bicycle Club's style are uplifting and still very present - almost too much in fact, and they continue to reflect the genre of British indie-rock a little too similarly, at times over-familiarizing with neighbouring bands such as Animal Collective and The Wave Machines, but that can always be stemmed to a devout celebration of conventional structures and codes.

All in all though, this album is a very good listen and definitely one to put onto my iPod. There is an undeniable beauty to each song, with even a bit of groove in the track Lights Out, Words Gone. But what I do have to criticize is that despite being their third release, A Different Kind of Fix doesn't really sound that different. There is still a sense of adolescent simplicity to their style and tonality, and arguably a lack of experimentation and adventure in their sound. Sure, maybe they've found their preferred style, but it never hurt anyone to spread their wings and and test new waters. 

In my opinion though, the tracks on this album that are particularly worth listening to are;

Shuffle

Beggars

Bad Timing 

Official Bombay Bicycle Club Website